In the City of Gold and Silver Read Free Page A

very high status, quite unlike that of prostitutes. Renowned for their elegance and sophistication, they usually have a wealthy patron and every evening welcome aristocrats and artists into their salons to share art, music, dance and conversation.
    Some courtesans are also accomplished poets and musicians. All of them are hostesses whose language and etiquette is so refined that young men from prominent families are often sent to them to complete their education.
    However, attaining this respected position requires hard work and pitiless discipline. Those not gifted or dedicated enough to reach the required level of perfection find themselves relegated to the poorer part of the Chowk as second-rate courtesans, or even reduced to the status of mere prostitutes—a prospect that terrifies these women.
    Amman and Imaman’s house was large enough to accommodate ten boarders—more would have compromised the remarkable quality of their training. The young girls were woken up at 5 A.M. to perform their morning ablutions in cold water, and then they said their prayers. Religion and morality were a fundamental part of their education.
    Lessons in comportment, dance and singing began after a light breakfast and continued until two in the afternoon. Music lessons were also a must; each girl had to know how to play at least one instrument: the
sitar
, the
sarangi
or the
tabla
. 18 After a frugal lunch, the afternoon was spent in learning Persian, the language of the Court and of poetry. Muhammadi loved these moments when her imagination could run free, within the limits of the precise codes of classical poetry, of course.
    In the evening, the boarders had free time and they made full use of the absence of their “benefactors,” who were often out visiting potential clients. They had great fun, carefully applying make-up, dancing while dressed up in transparent veils, miming scenes of passion and jealousy in which they surpassed their rivals, vying for the attention of a handsome prince, who fell madly in love and covered them in jewels. Every evening, they added a new episode to the dream, living in anticipation of the brilliant future the two sisters had promised their most gifted students. Each one saw herself as the most talented.
    At first, Muhammadi had taken part in the games, but she soon tired of them. She preferred to sit alone, writing her poems, practicing her calligraphy, or talking for hours with Mumtaz, a young girl who also came from an area near Faizabad.
    Amman and Imaman had found Mumtaz during their yearly visits to the most remote villages of the kingdom. Enchanted by her fresh beauty, they had dangled the prospect of a rich marriage before her parents, who were poor farmers. A few pieces of silver convinced them.
    Mumtaz had been in Lucknow for two years now and had come to realise she would probably never have a rich husband, at best it would be a succession of rich patrons.
    This realisation in no way diminished her gaiety. Naturally cheerful, she saw no ill will in others. Muhammadi had often tried to warn her of the boarders’ gossip and malice. Despite being two years younger than Mumtaz, she was much more perceptive and capable of thwarting their schemes.
    One day, when Muhammadi had just turned fourteen, Amman and Imaman came with some exciting news: the crown prince needed more “fairies” for his
parikhana
, and tomorrow the best of them would be presented at the palace. Without a moment’s hesitation, they chose three girls: Yasmine, Sakina and Muhammadi. Then they promptly left the room, ignoring the protests and supplications of the other girls.
    Mumtaz and Muhammadi had spent the night together—maybe their last—crying, dreaming, promising they would never forget each other, swearing they would meet again, no matter what happened. Losing each other was like losing their families all over again.
    â€œDon’t be so sad, I probably won’t be